Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people march from MacArthur Park to the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

A protester prays as thousands of people gather in front of Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A protester prays as thousands of people gather in front of Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Thousands of people gather in front of Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles after marching from MacArthur Park during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Thousands of people gather in front of Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles after marching from MacArthur Park during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

The crowd begins to gather at MacArthur Park in L.A. (Photo by Brooke Edwards Staggs, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Thousands of people march from MacArthur Park to the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The protest that started at MacArthur Park led to the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Thousands of people march from MacArthur Park to the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people march from MacArthur Park to the Edward Roybal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "Not my President" Anti-Trump protest march and rally in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 12, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Thousands of people took to the streets of Los Angeles today, marching from MacArthur park to Downtown L.A. in protest of Donald Trump's presidency. (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

An estimated 10,000 people participated in "Not my President" Anti-Trump protesters, that started at MacArthur Park and ended at the Edward Royal Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, November 12, 2016.(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)(Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

That was the rallying cry as thousands of people marched peacefully from MacArthur Park to Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday in protest of Donald Trump’s presidency.

The march was one of a dozen or so planned around the world, with anti-Trump rallies also held Saturday in New York City and Chicago along with Mexico City and Berlin.

In Long Beach, about 500 protesters marched through downtown Saturday evening chanting slogans against the president-elect. The demonstration remained largely peaceful as of 8 p.m. while the march continued to weave through downtown with cries of “We reject the president-elect.”

At the L.A. event, demonstrators waved American, Mexican and rainbow flags. They carried signs decrying Trump’s statements about immigration and the environment, women and Muslims. They yelled support for LGBT rights and Muslim-Americans while blasting the Electoral College.

Maria Elena Olgun Hernandez didn’t expect to get to participate since she was working at her family’s cellphone store along 3rd Street.

Then the march, which was organized by Latin-American political group Union del Barrio Los Angeles, took an unexpected turn straight in front of her shop.

“I really feel a part of it,” she said, expressing particular joy at all of the non-Hispanic faces in the crowd passing by her door. “It makes me feel that there’s hope in humanity.”

As a Mexican immigrant, she said she was “heartbroken” at the outcome of Tuesday’s election.

“We have children at home, and they just lost hope,” Hernandez said, with fears of deportation and discrimination rampant. “It’s like a bad joke coming into reality.”

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As members of the trans community, Shaina Freeman and Danielle Berg said they also feel tangible fear that their personal liberties may be impacted under Trump’s administration.

“We do feel like we’ve been targeted,” said Berg, 47.

The pair – who came from Long Beach carrying signs that said “Dump Trump” and “I will not go quietly” – cited past statements by Trump against same-sex marriage and policies of Vice President-Elect Mike Pence.

“I’m here on behalf of all trans people along with all Muslims, blacks and Hispanics to say this is not acceptable,” Freeman, 43, said.

While some of the protests held nightly since Trump’s victory Tuesday night have led to violence and vandalism, Officer R. Rocha with the Los Angeles Police Department said he hadn’t heard of any arrests or incidents during Saturday’s event.

“It stands out as being super peaceful,” Rocha said.

But later in the night through at least midnight, about 300 protesters were still walking the streets of L.A., some tagging vehicles and buildings. At least three arrests were reported by police.

Police stood in a line along S. Figueroa Street at 6th Street and on the 4th Street bridge with their riot helmet visors flipped up. As protestors walked by, some stopped to take pictures with the officers and call out their appreciation.

Wilshire Boulevard was blocked off for miles, while cross streets throughout the city were open. That meant lines of cars were sometimes backed up for blocks, with drivers forced to wait for long stretches or make illegal U-turns along tight streets while motorcyclists squeezed through the crowds.

One driver, who declined to give her name, said she’d been waiting 20 minutes to go half a block to get to an appointment.

Other drivers honked in support, while one blocked SUV began blasting a hip-hop song that curses Donald Trump. A boy, perhaps 12 years old, jumped on the roof of the vehicle to cheer marchers along.

There was no sign of any clashes between Trump supporters and protestors. And Trump allies watching from afar said they hope it stays that way.

“One of the greatest things about America is that people have the right to protest,” Randy Economy, who was with the Trump delegation from California, said by phone Saturday. “But the fact of the matter is, Donald Trump is the 45th president of the United States. We need to adhere to the results of the election.”

Economy said he understands that emotions are raw and that there’s a “fear factor” right now. But he’s optimistic that Trump will bring some protestors around over time, calling him a “heartful” man.

“I’m very excited about the future of the country,” he said.

Paul Hicks didn’t echo that sentiment.

He and his wife, Nina Eganova, drove from Santa Clarita on Saturday with their 8-year-old son, Alex, to join the demonstration.

“Obviously we can’t kick Trump out,” Paul Hicks said. “But we can stand in solidarity with immigrants and women and the other races. And I can teach my son to do the same.”

Tao Jones, a Vietnamese immigrant, had no concerns about bringing her 8-year-old daughter, Belle, to the rally.

“We’re in a blue state,” she said. “We’re safe here. And we believe in the best of America.”

Jones said she wanted Belle to see like-minded people coming together to have a voice. And she expects they’ll do it many more times over the next four years.

Brooke Edwards Staggs is a general assignment reporter with a focus on covering the politics, business, health and culture of cannabis. Journalism has led Staggs to a manhunt in Las Vegas, a zero gravity flight over Queens and a fishing village in Ghana. The Big Bear native is addicted to education. She earned her bachelors degree in English from California Baptist University, then got her master's in education as she taught high school English in the Inland Empire. After four years in the classroom, she left in 2006 to be a student again herself, earning a masters degree in journalism from New York University while interning and freelancing for a variety of publications. She sees journalism as another form of teaching, helping readers make informed decisions and better understand the world around them. Staggs spent five years as a staff writer then city editor at the Daily Press in Victorville. She won several awards for her work there, including best breaking news story from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for her tale of a teen who shot his father in a hunting accident. She joined the Orange County Register in January 2013, covering several south Orange County communities and the city of Tustin before taking on the marijuana beat in February 2016. On occasion, she also teaches community college and ghostwrites nonfiction books. Staggs loves dancing and new adventures. She hates water slides and injustice. If she doesn’t get right back to you, there’s a good chance she’s sitting with her DJ husband on a plane or train or boat destined for somewhere – anywhere – they’ve never been.